Chemistry is the science of the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter,
especially of atomic and molecular systems. It is the basis of the technology of the largescale
production of chemicals and chemical materials that are useful to modern society.
The study of Chemistry helps people understand the physical world and its workings.

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree program provides graduates a wide
range of career opportunities. Graduates of the B.S. in Chemistry who complete either
the general Chemistry, Biochemistry, or Pharmacy options find employment in industry,
government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Types of work include basic research,
applied research, analytical services, product development, marketing and sales, and
manufacturing. Persons desiring to become practicing chemists/biochemists should select
the Biochemistry option or the Biochemistry option certified by the American Chemical
Society. The latter is recommended for students wishing to enter graduate school or seek
employment in the chemical industry immediately upon graduation. The Pharmacy option
targets those students who seek a career as a pharmacist (Pharm.D.) or pharmacologist
(Ph.D.) but would also benefit students who wish to work in the pharmaceutical or biotech
industries at the B.S. or M.S. level. The Pharmacy option is also useful to those students
who are seeking careers in forensic pharmacology, pharmaceutical sales, or as certified
pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, and other healthcare professionals. The
Science/Chemistry—Teacher Education option is designed to prepare students to become
licensed to teach high school science with a specialization in Chemistry.

The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry prepares graduates with a strong
Chemistry background and a specialization in forensic sciences which will prepare them
to work in modern laboratories at the local, regional, state, and federal levels. Graduates of
the Forensic Chemistry program will be prepared for careers in modern crime laboratories
and other law enforcement agencies as well as private chemical and pharmaceutical
industries.

The Chemistry faculty advise students enrolled in pre-professional programs in Chemical
Engineering and Pharmacy. The department also offers minor in Chemistry, Forensic
Chemistry, and Forensic Science.

Honors Curriculum—Academically qualified students in this department are encouraged
to complete an honors curriculum in University Honors, Upper Division Honors, or Lower
Division Honors. All Honors students must complete the one-hour honors colloquium (G H
299). Lower Division Honors includes General Honors coursework. Upper Division Honors
includes honors work in the major. University Honors combines Upper and Lower Division
Honors. For more information about honors curricula see the Centennial Honors College page of the
catalog or visit the Centennial Honors College website at wiu.edu/Honors.

Integrated Baccalaureate and Master’s Degree Program—An integrated baccalaureate
and master’s degree program is available for the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry or
Forensic Chemistry: Master of Science in Chemistry. An integrated degree program provides
the opportunity for outstanding undergraduates to earn both degrees in five years. Please
refer to the Graduate Studies catalog for details about the integrated program.

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Science—Chemistry

All students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry must complete I, II, and III.A,
III.B, III.C, or III.D below, and the foreign language/global issues requirement for the
major#. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h.

In accordance with the Illinois State Board of Education licensure rules, all candidates
seeking teacher licensure are required by Western Illinois University to obtain a grade of “C”
or better in all directed General Education courses, all core courses, and all courses in the
option. Note C- is below a C.

†CHEM 401 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement
for the Chemistry non-teaching option. CHEM 422 and 429 fulfill the Writing Instruction
in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement for the Biochemistry option. CHEM
422 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement for
the Pharmacy option. CHEM 482 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID)
graduation requirement for the Science/Chemistry—Teacher Education option.

Bachelor of Science—Forensic Chemistry

All students seeking the Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry must complete I, II,
III, and IV below, and the foreign language/global issues requirement for the major#. The
minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 122 s.h.

Pre-Professional Programs

Pre-professional programs in Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy are available. SeePre-Professional Programs for detailed descriptions of the requirements.

Certification by the American Chemical Society

Western Illinois University is approved by the American Chemical Society for
undergraduate professional training in Chemistry and Biochemistry. Students who are
pursuing the B.S.in Chemistry may qualify for certification by completing the following
coursework:

Certification in Biochemistry

Recommended High School Subjects for Students Planning to Major in
Chemistry

English: four years

Mathematics: four years

Chemistry: one year

Physics: one year

The First-Year Course in Chemistry

Students requiring two or more years of Chemistry should take CHEM 201 and 202.

Students requiring only one year of Chemistry or Forensic Science minor should take
CHEM 101 and 102.

Students without one year of Chemistry in high school are required to take CHEM 100
before taking CHEM 101 or 201.

Course Descriptions

CHEMISTRY (CHEM)

Illinois law requires that safety goggles must be worn
in all laboratory classes (Senate Bill 1190). Students
enrolled in Chemistry laboratory courses are required to
purchase safety goggles.

100 Introduction to Chemistry. (3) For those
students who have completed less than the equivalent
of one year of high school Chemistry. Introduces the
fundamental concepts of Chemistry including matter,
atomic structure and periodicity, stoichiometry, some
descriptive Chemistry. Prerequisites: one year high
school algebra or MATH 099N. 3 hrs. lect.

101 General Chemistry I. (4) (General Education/
Natural Sciences) A survey for students who do
not plan to take Chemistry beyond the 100 level.
Application of the general principles of inorganic and
organic chemistry to biological, environmental, and
applied sciences. Prerequisites: one year of high school
algebra or MATH 099N, and either one year of high
school Chemistry or CHEM 100. 3 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab.
IAI: P1 902L.

150 Contemporary Chemistry. (4) (General
Education/Natural Sciences) A course intended to
inform the student of the role of science in modern
society. Lectures treat the fundamentals of chemical
composition, the impact of industrial products on the
environment, energy, and drugs; and the importance of
consumer information. 3 hrs. lect.; 2 hrs. lab.
IAI: P1 903L.

201 Inorganic Chemistry I. (4) (General Education/
Natural Sciences) Designed for science and preengineering
majors. Fundamental physicochemical
principles and quantitative relationships including
the mole concept, periodic properties of the
elements, atomic structure, chemical bonding, and
thermochemistry. Laboratory emphasizes quantitative
analysis. Prerequisites: MATH 100 and either one year
of high school Chemistry or CHEM 100. Corequisite:
either MATH 101, 102, 106, 123, or 128, or math course
requiring one of these as a prerequisite. 3 hrs. lect.; 3
hrs. lab.
IAI: CHM 911.

263 Introduction to Pharmacology. (3) This
course introduces the students to the basic concepts
of pharmacology and the major categories of
pharmacologic agents, and explores the myths and facts
about vitamins, nutritional supplements, and common
herbal medicines. Prerequisites: either BIOL 101or ZOOL
200 or ZOOL 330; and either CHEM 102 or CHEM 330.

264 Pharmacy Methods. (3) This course is designed
as an aid for students who plan a career in Pharmacy.
The course describes methods used in Pharmacy,
including receiving and processing prescriptions, drug
calculations, dosage and formulations, Pharmacy law,
and inventory control. Prerequisite: CHEM 263 or
permission of the instructor.

341 Analytical Techniques. (3) An extension of the
fundamental techniques used in CHEM 201 and 202
with emphasis on the analytical process, methods of
separation, and methods of measurement. Prerequisite:
CHEM 202. 2 hrs. lect.; 3 hrs. lab.

342 Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry. (4)
(Global Issues) An examination of the chemistry of the
geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere with emphasis
on the interactions between them and the impact of
technology upon the natural environment. Prerequisite:
CHEM 102 or 202. 3 hrs. lect.; 3 hrs. lab.

374 Physical Chemistry—Thermodynamics and
Kinetics. (4) A rigorous treatment of physical chemistry
useful for chemists, biologists, engineers, Earth
scientists, and medical scientists. The topics include
thermodynamics and kinetics. Prerequisite: CHEM 202,
one year of Physics, and one year of calculus. 3 hrs.
lect.; 3 hrs. lab.

375 Physical Chemistry—Quantum Mechanics
and Spectroscopy. (4) A rigorous treatment of
physical chemistry useful for chemists, biologists,
engineers, Earth scientists, and medical scientists. The
topics include quantum mechanics and spectroscopy.
Prerequisite: CHEM 202, one year of Physics, and one
year of calculus. 3 hrs. lect.; 3 hrs. lab.

390 Junior Project Laboratory. (1–2, repeatable
for different projects to 2) Enrollment only with
permission of department.

429 Biochemistry Topics. (3) Topics include current
research including protein chemistry, enzyme kinetics
and mechanisms; and methods used in biochemistry
and molecular biological research. Students will apply
the techniques to team research projects. Current
techniques and state-of-the-art instruments are used.
Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course.
Prerequisite: CHEM 421. 1 hr. lect.; 6 hrs. lab.

463 Advanced Pharmacology. (3) This course
introduces the students to the chemical aspects
of drug-receptor interactions, pharmacokinetics,
and pharmacodynamics of major categories of
pharmacologic agents. Not open to students who have
credit for PSY 444. Prerequisites: CHEM 421 and either
ZOOL 331 or ZOOL 430; or NURS 310 and permission of
the instructor.

485 Internship in Chemistry. (3–8, repeatable
to maximum of 8) An on-the-job experience in a
government or industrial laboratory. To familiarize
students with working environments—laboratory
procedures and instrumentation they will encounter
in a job situation. A formal written report is required.
Prerequisites: CHEM 332, 370 or 375, 442, junior
or senior standing in Chemistry, or permission of
department chairperson. Graded S/U only.

490 Senior Project Laboratory. (1–4, repeatable
to 4) Laboratory research under the direction of a
Chemistry faculty member. The work will include the
use of the chemical literature in independent research
programs. A formal written report of the investigation
undertaken is required. Corequisite or Prerequisite:
CHEM 492. Prerequisite: one semester of Physical
Chemistry or permission of the department.

491 Honors Thesis in Chemistry. (1–2, repeatable to
2) A thesis prepared under the direction of one or more
faculty members.

492 Safety Practices in Chemistry Research. (1) The
course is designed to train students in safety techniques
and practices commonly used in laboratory research. A
combination of lecture and demonstrations are used to
describe MSDS, PPE, federal regulations, safe handling
of hazardous reagents, and isotopes. Prerequisite:
CHEM 101 or 201 or permission of instructor.

(Education)

239 Pre-Teacher Education Program Admittance.
(0, repeatable with no maximum) Students pursuing
teacher licensure are required to take this course in
the semester they plan to be fully accepted in the
Teacher Education Program (TEP). Students must meet
established departmental criteria for admittance to TEP.
Graded S/U.

339 Pre-Student Teaching Clearance. (0) Students
pursuing teacher licensure are required to take this
course prior to their student teaching semester. Students
must meet established criteria for departmental
clearance to student teach. Prerequisites: Full
admittance to the Teacher Education Program (TEP).
Graded S/U.

439 Methods of Teaching Secondary Science.
(3) Study of secondary teaching methods (Grades
6–12) from the standpoints of theory and practice,
curriculum objectives and standard implementation,
materials, and evaluation and assessment. Included
are demonstrations, discussions, lectures, classroom
participation, and field observations. Prerequisites:
major in Science/Chemistry—Teacher Education option
and EIS 301. Corequisite: EIS 303.

469 Pre-Licensure Clearance. (1) Students pursuing
teacher licensure are required to take this course in
the semester they student teach. Students must meet
criteria established by the department in order to be
recommended for licensure. Prerequisite: departmental
clearance to student teach. Corequisite: Student
Teaching (STCH). Graded S/U.

480 Student Teaching. See STCH 480.

482 (Cross-listed with BIOL 482 and PHYS 482)
Science in Context. (3) Interdisciplinary course
designed for science majors pursuing secondary teacher
licensure. Students will explore science as inquiry, the
unifying principles of science, and the role of social
contexts and ethics in science. Writing Instruction in
the Disciplines (WID) course. Not open to students with
credit in BIOL 482 or PHYS 482. Prerequisites: senior
standing in Science/Chemistry—Teacher Education
option, or permission of instructor; ENG 280.